Florida track & field earns 11 event titles in Arkansas

Special to Gatorsports.com

Published: Saturday, April 27, 2013 at 6:01 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, April 28, 2013 at 12:46 a.m.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Florida track & field teams pushed through a cold, rain-soaked Saturday in Fayetteville to capture 11 titles, eight seasonal bests and four personal bests at the Arkansas Spring Invitational.
“We had a solid day today,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway said. “I'm very proud of the way we competed considering the cool weather conditions.”
Senior Jeremy Postin won the men's hammer throw to start the day, tossing a new season's best of 68.68m/225-4 on his final throw. Sophomore Kyle Strawn threw a new personal best of 65.56m/215-1 to take the runner-up spot. Sophomore David Levin joined in on the day of personal bests, tossing a career best of 59.59m/195-6 to finish fifth and move into sixth all-time in program history.

“I'm very happy with the hammer throwers today,” Holloway said. “For three of them to throw seasonal bests and two of those to be PRs, that's where we want them to be heading into the conference portion of the season.”
Sophomore jumper Ciarra Brewer leapt to a new season's best of 13.45m/44-1.50 in the women's triple jump, taking the title Saturday and leading the Gators to a sweep of the event. Senior Omar Craddock captured the men's triple jump title with his leap of 15.76m/51-8.50, finishing just ahead of sophomore Marquis Dendy, who captured runner-up finishes in the triple and long jumps.
Dendy, the 2013 NCAA Champion in the men's indoor long jump, posted a new personal best in the triple jump of 15.53m/50-11.50, etching his name in the Florida record books at 10th all-time in program history. In the long jump, Dendy put up a jump of 7.77m/25-6 to finish behind OSU's Mike Hartfield, who is just behind Dendy nationally in the event.
Sophomore Taylor Burke captured the women's high jump, her third straight victory of the 2013 outdoor season. Burke cleared a seasonal best of 1.81m/5-11.25 to win the event.
“I'm very pleased with Taylor jumping a seasonal best,” Holloway said. “She continues to get better as we move into the championship season.”
Freshman Kadesh Roberts won the first race of his collegiate career, taking the men's 400-meter hurdles in a new personal best of 52.86.
Junior Eddie Lovett easily took the men's 110-meter hurdles in 13.72, his second fastest wind-legal time of the season.
The Gators' weekend isn't finished yet, as seven members of the distance crew will compete at Stanford in the Payton Jordan Invitational.
This weekend is the last of the regular season for the Gators, as the No. 1 Florida men and No. 6 women will turn their attention to the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Mizzou's Audrey J. Walton Stadium. The four-day meet is slated for May 9-12.
“Overall, we had a good meet and got some good things done,” Holloway said. “Now we go back home and start preparing for the conference meet in 13 days in Columbia.”

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — The Florida track & field teams pushed through a cold, rain-soaked Saturday in Fayetteville to capture 11 titles, eight seasonal bests and four personal bests at the Arkansas Spring Invitational.
“We had a solid day today,” Florida head coach Mike Holloway said. “I'm very proud of the way we competed considering the cool weather conditions.”
Senior Jeremy Postin won the men's hammer throw to start the day, tossing a new season's best of 68.68m/225-4 on his final throw. Sophomore Kyle Strawn threw a new personal best of 65.56m/215-1 to take the runner-up spot. Sophomore David Levin joined in on the day of personal bests, tossing a career best of 59.59m/195-6 to finish fifth and move into sixth all-time in program history.
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“I'm very happy with the hammer throwers today,” Holloway said. “For three of them to throw seasonal bests and two of those to be PRs, that's where we want them to be heading into the conference portion of the season.”
Sophomore jumper Ciarra Brewer leapt to a new season's best of 13.45m/44-1.50 in the women's triple jump, taking the title Saturday and leading the Gators to a sweep of the event. Senior Omar Craddock captured the men's triple jump title with his leap of 15.76m/51-8.50, finishing just ahead of sophomore Marquis Dendy, who captured runner-up finishes in the triple and long jumps.
Dendy, the 2013 NCAA Champion in the men's indoor long jump, posted a new personal best in the triple jump of 15.53m/50-11.50, etching his name in the Florida record books at 10th all-time in program history. In the long jump, Dendy put up a jump of 7.77m/25-6 to finish behind OSU's Mike Hartfield, who is just behind Dendy nationally in the event.
Sophomore Taylor Burke captured the women's high jump, her third straight victory of the 2013 outdoor season. Burke cleared a seasonal best of 1.81m/5-11.25 to win the event.
“I'm very pleased with Taylor jumping a seasonal best,” Holloway said. “She continues to get better as we move into the championship season.”
Freshman Kadesh Roberts won the first race of his collegiate career, taking the men's 400-meter hurdles in a new personal best of 52.86.
Junior Eddie Lovett easily took the men's 110-meter hurdles in 13.72, his second fastest wind-legal time of the season.
The Gators' weekend isn't finished yet, as seven members of the distance crew will compete at Stanford in the Payton Jordan Invitational.
This weekend is the last of the regular season for the Gators, as the No. 1 Florida men and No. 6 women will turn their attention to the SEC Outdoor Track & Field Championships at Mizzou's Audrey J. Walton Stadium. The four-day meet is slated for May 9-12.
“Overall, we had a good meet and got some good things done,” Holloway said. “Now we go back home and start preparing for the conference meet in 13 days in Columbia.”